US film star and Oscar winner Sean Penn has joined today’s demonstration in Tahrir Square, staged to protest recent unpopular moves by Egypt’s ruling military council.

“The world is inspired by the call for freedom by the courageous revolution of Egypt,” Penn, waving an Egyptian flag, told Ahram Online from the square. “There are still struggles forward, there are constitutional issues, there [needs to be] a transition of power from the military to the people.”

Penn arrived in the square shortly after noon with Egyptian actor Khaled El-Nabawy. The two actors toured the iconic landmark before heading to the nearby Egyptian Museum.

The American actor added that he had joined today’s protest in order to show “solidarity with our brave Egyptian brothers; we are here to support their freedom.”

El-Nabawy said he had personally invited Penn to Egypt in hopes of reenergizing the country’s flagging tourism industry, which has struggled to bounce back following the recent revolution. El-Nabawy said that such visits by high-profile personalities would show that Egypt remained a “safe and beautiful country.”

Penn, a two-time Academy Award winner for his roles in ‘Mystic River’ and ‘Milk,’ is also an outspoken critic of US policy in the Middle East.